Abstract:

A removable computer information storage device which is formatted for
operation on a portable or stationary computer system currently operating
on Apple (MAC) or IBM (Windows) software without on-board mechanical or
operational software necessary for the transition of the two systems.

Claims:

1. A Portable device containing programs and user data usable on almost
any MAC or Windows computer which act as host to the device, comprising:a
said portable drive device is formatted in a specific mannerb said
software is available and usable from both Windows and Mac host
computersc said user data is available and usable from both Windows and
Mac host computersd said host computer is capable of recognizing portable
drive devicee said host computer assigns a random drive letter in Windows
computersf said host computer recognizes both partitions as drives by
name in MAC computersg said user data can remain solely on said portable
drive device including but not limited to both Internet browsing and
emailh said portable drive device for said user data can contain an
encrypted disk in form of a file available and useable from both Windows
and Mac host computersi said portable drive device and said software use
host computer physical resourcesj said software is General Public
License, Open Source or designated Freeware

2. A Portable device containing programs and user data usable on almost
any MAC or Windows computer wherein information and/or data can be moved
onto or off of without mechanical aids.

3. A Portable device containing programs and user data usable on almost
MAC or Windows computer in accordance to claim 1 wherein a USB or other
compatible connective port male or female is located on the device.

4. A Portable device containing programs and user data usable on almost
MAC or Windows computer in accordance to claim 1 wherein software is
preloaded.

Description:

[0002]The present invention relates to a portable storage device with
universal serial bus or other connectivity hereafter referred to as USB
and more particularly to a portable storage device which allows immediate
use on either Apple MAC or Windows based computer systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]The present invention relates to a portable data storage device and
more particularly to a computer readable portable data storage device,
which is comprised of a main circuit board, a memory circuit board
coupled to the main circuit board, and a USB port and adapted to
electrically connected the main circuit board to the USB port of a
personal computer.

[0004]A regular portable data storage device is readable to a computer and
can be connected to the USB port of a personal computer for enabling the
user to transmit data between the personal computer and the portable data
storage device. When connecting a portable data storage device to the USB
port of a personal computer, a major part of the portable data storage
device functionality is determined by the pre-loaded or compatibility
software via Apple MAC or IBM Windows, but not both.

[0005]Many computer experts have wished for such a device but the only
solutions offered to date is software allowing MAC or Windows to run the
other operating system. In most cases it runs virtually but just on the
machine the software is installed on and at a significant cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]Briefly, this invention comprises a removable drive which can be
formatted in such a manner to allow programs for both Mac OS X 10.4 to
10.6--Intel and PPC and Windows 2000 through 7 to be run on most any
available computer. The configuration also allows for storage, retrieval
or alteration of users data. The programs provided are GPL and the same
basic ones for MAC and Windows. The configuration also allows for an
encryption partition usable from both MAC and Windows. The use of the
device leaves no "footprints" on the host computer and all private
information resides on the device.

[0007]One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a
removable drive that can be formatted for use on Apple or Window based
systems without format conflict.

[0008]The device consists of an external portable data storage drive that
can be plugged into most Windows or Mac computers. The device must be
formatted in a particular way and loaded with certain software.

[0009]The subject device has two partitions on it. Partition 1 must be a
Windows partition with a FAT32 file structure, as the device is a
portable device it is the only partition Windows can read. Partition 2 is
in Mac format, HFS or HFS+ preferred.

[0010]Platform specific General Public License programs, like the portable
Mac PPC and Intel versions of Open Office are "installed" on the Mac
partition and the Windows portable version is "installed" in the Windows
partition. Utilizing a Windows start menu mimic program, Codyssey, the
user of this device finds the programs as they would from the Windows
Start Button. Programs in Mac show up in a normal fashion for Mac users
on a Mac drive that appears (as well as a Windows drive) when the device
is plugged in.

[0011]As portable versions of programs tend to be small and use only the
resources of the host many can be included on relatively small drives
leaving large space for storage of personal data.

[0012]All user data is stored on the Windows partition as Mac is capable
of reading and writing to FAT32 files. Since the same programs are used
for Mac and Windows, the files are usable whether they are opened from
the Mac or Windows versions that depending on the type host computer the
device are plugged into.

[0013]Additionally a high level GPL encryption program is used with a
device as its disk shows up as a file on the Windows partition thus
making it visible and accessible from either Windows or Mac.

[0014]No footprint is left on the host computer using the programs
included on the device but if the user of this device uses a native
program on the host computer a GPL program can also included on the
device to clean any traces of that activity.

[0015]Included software for web browsing, email and VoIP allow users of
the subject invention to keep their confidential information available to
them while using the resources of the host computer.

[0016]Coupled with a "no drivers required" webcam/microphone users of my
device and talk for free to people anywhere in the world via included
Skype software.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 1/1

[0017]FIG. 1 is a typical removable drive

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING PARTS

FIG. 1 Reference Numerals

[0018]11 Body of external drive

[0019]12 Mechanical connector to interface with host computer

[0020]13 Approximate area used by external drive for memory

[0021]14 Approximate area dedicated to partition 2

[0022]15 Approximate area in partition 1 used for user data

[0023]16 Approximate area in partition 1 used for encryption area

[0024]17 Approximate area in partition 1 used for applications

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMODIMENT

[0025]An external computer storage drive FIG. 1 is capable of accessing
both Apple (Macintosh) and IBM (Windows) through use of plugs 12. Within
the case 11 of said device is an area dedicated to flash memory 13. In
this embodiment the external storage drive is formatted in two
partitions. The first partition is the space represented by 15, 16 and 17
is formatted as FAT 32. The second partition represented by 14 is
formatted as HFS or HFS+. The two partition areas, 12, 16, 17 as one FAT
32 and 14 a single HFS+, during the partitioning process given a name for
identification when used with Apple MAC computers. Without the specific
format Windows will not be able to assign a drive letter or read the
device. Once this has been accomplished the area formatted as FAT 32 can
have a pseudo partition installed. This is in the form of a single large
file to accommodate encryption 16. Many small files can then be securely
stored within the large file 16. Specific General Public License
applications written for portable devices can now be installed in the
appropriate partitions. Generally like applications are nstalled for use
with MAC and Windows operating systems. Once these operations have been
completed the device can be plugged into Mac OS 10.4 and above or Windows
2000 and above host computers. Familiar to even novice computer users
interfaces appear and the programs are presented. All user data is stored
in the FAT 32 area 15 and or 16. Both MAC and Windows are capable of
reading and writing to FAT 32 formatted files. All user data can be
created, changed or read from either MAC or Windows. The applications are
running from the device and only using the resources of the host. This
makes the use of the device and it's data both portable and private.